Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

The "confessional" in my opinion is scripted. I say this because they have the producer sitting beside them asking them questions about their HM's, or a specific issue.

As far as Kim's drinking..all I have ever seen is a glass of wine in the evening. I see nothing wrong with this as she is over 21. All of ladies (unless they are in recovery) have drank wine, or beer in the house. I also remember a certain minor on season 1 drinking ETOH as well! Remember the fight between Jill and TJ over the grocery money...TJ didn't drink wine, but everyone else did, and she felt she shouldn't have to pay for everyone else's wine...so see, Kim is not the only one. I noticed they are showing Kim, by herself, on the patio, smoking and drinking in the evening at the end of nearly every episode. Are they wanting viewers to think she has a problem? Would they be guilty of creating controversy where none exists??? HMMMM> If she does have a problem, then fine..what are they waiting for ? Address it already. If not, leave her alone. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine and smoking a cigarette..it's not like it was noon!

I do think they are purposefully showing scenes of Kim drinking to "foreshadow" raising the issue with her. Whether or not drinking is a current problem for Kim, it seems that alcoholism does run in her family, and that is something of which she should remain keenly aware. As she faces more and more of the pain and anger she has kept locked up for so long, alcohol could become an issue for her as a numbing agent.

Did you see the previews at the end of today's show? I don't like the way they promote these kinds of shows. Even if Kim is as drunk as she appears I don't think they should use that to draw in viewers. It reeks of exploitation.

In a way, it all could be viewed as exploitation - of the abused, the abandoned, even possible exploitation of the new woman, the grieving mother, in a sense. And yet, there is value in it for them and for us. With Kim, I was shocked at what I saw in the preview, but I honestly don't believe I would ever have thought she had a "real" alcohol problem if I hadn't seen that. It might even take Kim watching it to convince her.

Still, there is a part of me that wonders if (hopes?) the preview was misleading in some way and "creatively" edited together to make Kim look ripped. It was definitely a side of her I have not seen before.

The show could be seen that way, but I guess my problem is at least with the show we see the problems and work towards solutions. On the otherhand these promos seem to just try to highlight the worse possible scenario for these ladies just to draw ratings. I have no idea if Kim is that drunk or they edit that way, but it was obvious how they did piece together different scenes just to make it looked like she was completely out of control.

What I don't understand is why they are making a big deal about Kim's drinking, but when Allison was in the house it was glossed over.